Even though Paul wrote vv.3-14 as one continuous sentence and thought, there is too much going on to cram into one devotional teaching.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offences, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.”
(Ephesians 1.7-8, NET)
The him of v.7 is the beloved of v.6, Jesus. If there were any doubt to this the end of that thought dispels it:
“In him we have redemption through his blood…”
(emphasis added)
Redemption speaks to the payment of outstanding offences, the judicial fine having been paid. We know that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3.23) but that the forgiveness of our offences is paid through his blood (cf. Romans 3.24). Paul is reminding the Ephesians that it is only through Jesus that they can be redeemed, forgiven, and restored to right relationship and original design with God.
Rather than get hung up on the phrase ‘through his blood‘ as if the blood itself is magical and mystical in some way, the bigger truth is that it is through the death of Jesus – not His life or ministry or physically flowing blood – that we are redeemed, forgiven, and restored to right relationship with God. When we read of the blood in Scripture, think the physical and bodily death of Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. The blood is quicker and easier to write, to say, and is totally representative of everything we just said.
We could talk for days and days about the riches of his grace that gave us the sacrifice, free of charge, that clears the record of our offences. We could wax lyrical about the wisdom and insight of God who, knowing we could never work off the debt our sin accumulates, took action to give us the opportunity, by faith and through grace, to have it cleared for us. Instead, today let us dwell on the truth that we are, through the blood of Jesus, redeemed and forgiven (v.7). Your whole life and your eternal destiny and destination can be changed through his blood.
James Travis 